IRS Agent vs. Impaired Driving Lawyer in Alberta
If you’ve been charged with a DUI in Alberta, understanding who can truly defend you could be the key to protecting your licence and future.
IRS Agent or Impaired Driving Lawyer?
If you’ve received an Immediate Roadside Sanction in Alberta, you may be wondering whether you need a lawyer or whether a paid agent can handle your case. This page explains the difference and helps you determine which one fits your situation.
An IRS Review Is Not a Court Proceeding
An IRS review is an administrative hearing conducted through SafeRoads Alberta.
There is no judge, no jury, no courtroom, and no criminal charge to defend against. The review examines whether the Immediate Roadside Sanction was issued in accordance with the regulatory and procedural requirements set out in Alberta legislation.
The process is administrative rather than criminal, a solicitor or barrister is not required to represent you. You can represent yourself, hire a paid agent to handle the review on your behalf, or retain a lawyer if you prefer.
What Is a Paid Agent?
A paid agent is someone authorized to represent you at a SafeRoads Alberta administrative hearing.
The term “agent” is used by SafeRoads Alberta to describe non-lawyers who represent drivers during the SafeRoads process for a fee.
Agents are not lawyers, solicitors, or barristers. They are not members of the Law Society of Alberta, and they do not practise law.
Save My Licence is a highly specialized agent service. We represent drivers exclusively at SafeRoads Alberta IRS hearings. This is all we do, and we’ve done it for over 1,200 Alberta drivers.
We understand how the SafeRoads system works, what adjudicators look for, how to review disclosure, and how to build effective submissions within the administrative framework.
Why Many Drivers Choose an Agent for Their IRS Review
A Paid Agent Specializing in SafeRoads’ Administrative Regime Makes Sense for an IRS Review.
IRS reviews operate under a specific set of rules that are distinct from criminal court. The legislation, the procedures, the way evidence is evaluated, and the way decisions are made are all unique to the SafeRoads system.
An agent who works exclusively in this system deals with these hearings every day. They know the process, the common issues, the regulatory framework, and the patterns in how decisions are made. That focused experience is the primary reason many drivers choose a specialist agent over a general practice lawyer for their IRS review.
There is also a practical cost difference. Agents do not carry the same overhead as a law firm, so fees can be lower.
However, in many cases, an agent provides experienced, focused representation that many drivers prefer because it’s specialized to SafeRoads’ administrative regime.
When You Do Need a Lawyer
If you have received a criminal impaired driving charge under the Criminal Code of Canada in addition to your IRS, you need a lawyer for the criminal matter. Criminal charges are handled through the court system and can result in a criminal record, additional fines, licence suspensions, and in some cases imprisonment. That is a different process entirely, and it requires legal representation.
It is possible to receive both an IRS and a criminal charge from the same incident. The two are handled through separate systems, and the outcome of one does not affect the other. In these situations, you may need both a lawyer for the criminal charge and an agent for the IRS review.
If you need a criminal defence lawyer, we can refer you to experienced impaired driving lawyers in your area. We work alongside lawyers regularly in cases where both an IRS and a criminal charge are involved.
Another situation you may require a Lawyer for is if your IRS review is unsuccessful and you believe the decision was unreasonable, the next step is a judicial review through the Court of King’s Bench. This is a court proceeding and requires a lawyer. We are lucky enough to work with a very experienced lawyer who is able to assist our clients in this regard if they require it.
FAQs
Is a paid agent the same as a paralegal?
Not exactly, though the terms are sometimes used interchangeably. In Alberta, a paid agent is someone authorized to represent a client in a proceeding on their behalf. Agents operate across a range of settings, including traffic court, civil court, and administrative tribunals like SafeRoads Alberta. Paralegals tend to function more in an assistant or administrative capacity within a law firm, though the line between the two roles isn’t always clear. Save My Licence operates as a paid agent specializing exclusively in IRS reviews through SafeRoads Alberta.
Will a paid agent cost less than a lawyer?
In many cases, yes. Agents do not carry the same overhead as a law firm, so fees are typically lower. For many drivers dealing with an IRS review, hiring a specialist agent is the more practical and cost-effective choice.
Can Save My Licence help if I also have a criminal charge?
We exclusively handle the Immediate Roadside Sanction reviews through SafeRoads Alberta. If you also have a criminal charge, we can refer you to an experienced impaired driving defence lawyer. In cases where both are involved, the IRS review and the criminal matter are handled separately, and we regularly work alongside lawyers in these situations.
Can a lawyer handle my IRS review?
Yes, a lawyer can represent you at a SafeRoads Alberta hearing. However, because the process is administrative and not criminal, a lawyer is not required, and the cost may be higher than hiring an agent who specializes exclusively in representing clients at SafeRoads reviews.
What if I'm not sure whether I have an IRS, a criminal charge, or both?
Contact us for a free consultation. We’ll review your paperwork and explain exactly what you’re dealing with and whether we can help you or if you need an impaired driving lawyer.
Do I have any say in the lawyer you refer me to?
Absolutely. We can suggest lawyers we’ve worked with and trust, but the decision is always yours. We have no financial arrangement with any lawyer we put you in contact with.
Not Sure Whether You Need an Agent, a Lawyer, or Both?
A free consultation will sort it out. We’ll review your situation, explain what process applies, and help you decide on the right representation for your case.